Ssb - stephen lee arrested in match fixing probe

[MySockPuppet]

Reports in Friday's newspapers state that Stephen Lee has been arrested as part of an investigation into match fixing.

The Daily Mail quotes a police spokesman as saying: "A 35-year-old man from Wiltshire has this morning been arrested on suspicion of cheating. This follows a joint operation where WestMidlands Police have assisted the Gambling Commission, following their concerns about suspicious betting patterns."

Lee, the world no.25, has won four ranking titles and was a semi-finalist at the 2003 World Championship.

Regardless of what comes out of this case, these are hardly headlines snooker needs.


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[Freddie Ng]

What happen to sports nowdays......

[chasmmi]

It's a product of what happens when there are only 6 tournaments in a year and a players gets more money for losing one match than they would for winning 3 or 4.

Not saying Stephen is guilty or not, but if your livlihood isn't paying you to the level you've become accustomed to then cheating can get more and more attractive, especially if you have a family to support.

[Mr P]

He would be the last person I thought would do this, but he is no good at Snooker anymore so barry hearn should just sack him. I don't think he should be accosiated with snooker anymore if this is what he is going to do.

[Mr Snooker]

Which match was it he was accused of cheating in not the one with Big Tony drago in the China qualifiers I hope which tony won 5-2, I hope world snooker get ths situation with him sorted out quickly and not mess about like they have done with Stephen Maguire and Jame Burnett which is still on going, like before the world championship qualifiers for players ranked between 17-32 which is in Early march

[Looki]

Not the first time someone is accused of fixing a match. Last season there was Ebdon, Wenbo, Maguire and Burnett, none of them was found guilty. So lets see how it goes.

[cantpotforshíte]

Let's see how it goes indeed, before we judge ... he's probably as innocent as the day he was born.
I'm willing to bet that the only charge that will stand up in court will be that of wearing an inappropiately long waistcoat.

By the way, was I the only one a little dissapointed when they visited this thread? On the front forum page the headline said: "Stephen Lee arrested in match.." and that was it.
I expected to open up this thread to find out that he was half way through a total clearance in a match somewhere and 4 policeman had come down on bungy ropes from the light fixings and frog-marched him out of the arena for some other felony ...

[ken147]

It's a product of what happens when there are only 6 tournaments in a year and a players gets more money for losing one match than they would for winning 3 or 4.

Not saying Stephen is guilty or not, but if your livlihood isn't paying you to the level you've become accustomed to then cheating can get more and more attractive, especially if you have a family to support.

Correct me if I am wrong. There were several match fixing incidents in the 80's when the game was at its peak, Silvino Fransico???

[gerbisto]

It's a product of what happens when there are only 6 tournaments in a year and a players gets more money for losing one match than they would for winning 3 or 4.

Not saying Stephen is guilty or not, but if your livlihood isn't paying you to the level you've become accustomed to then cheating can get more and more attractive, especially if you have a family to support.

I fully agree plus the nature of the game, with just one player involved makes it even easier for him if he wants to lose.

Certain matches this season, with 'incredible' recoveries have been suspicious in my opinion....

[spike]

Certain matches this season, with 'incredible' recoveries have been suspicious in my opinion....

That doesn't mean to say there is anything dodgy going on though. I think we should keep an open mind about this really..

[Harv]

Worth to mention that libelous comments on forums such as this can and have been taken to court in the past... nobody is guilty of anything just yet...

[Freddie Ng]

Any updates from the match fixing news?

[ferret]

Statement on the on Q promotions website

12th February - Stephen Lee Statement
On Q Promotions can confirm, as Stephen Lee's management company, that Stephen Lee was taken to a West Midlands police station for questioning on Thursday 11th February 2010.

Stephen cooperated fully with the police inquiry and was released without charge. He does not expect any charge to be made and denies any involvement with cheating or betting irregularities.

Stephen is now concentrating on practicing hard to achieve qualification for the World Championships and to fulfill all of his exhibition commitments.

Stephen Lee and On Q Promotions will not be making any further comments and would ask that the privacy of Stephen and his family is respected.

[darrus]

He has not been charged with any offence and is expected to answer bail in three to four months.
(from here)

As I have no clue about UK law system, can someone please explain what it means? Is he still a suspect? Was he cleared of accusations and why he is on a bail? (or is it just an innacurate reporting?).
I'm a bit lost here.

[gmg]

Nobody seems to have mentioned that Lee was linked with corruption before with the police having investigated him over drug dealing allegations a couple of years ago. In an interview earlier this year he talked about staying out of trouble, which I thought at the time may have some links with the above matter. Another thing that stands out is Mordechai Richler singling him out as an unlikable character in his bok 'On Snooker'.

Involvement in match fixing would seem understandable if inexcusable on Lee's behalf. After all he is a man who is dropping down the rankings, struggling to maintain a luxurious lifestyle for himself and his young children, and having witnessed the acquittal of what appeared on the surface to be a cut and dried allegation against Jamie Burnett.